Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Been a long time
        
(Message started by: helpless23 on Nov 21^st, 2006, 9:01pm)

Title: Been a long time
Post by helpless23 on Nov 21^st, 2006, 9:01pm

Hi everyone,

After a much needed break from everything and everyone, I'm sad to say that I'm in need once again for your help and support.

Ken has gotten attacked by the beast once again after being 3 years out of it and the worst part about it is that they are worse then ever. Of course, we're doing Verapamil therapy, got a new neurologist and have Imitrex, but being they hit him in his sleep mostly, Imitrex is out and Insurance company being @#$%! once again. What a surprise. Not much has changed here.

His headaches are intensifying more and more every night and they come at the same hour every night to where he's getting very little sleep (4-6 hour per WEEK) and he's afraid to go to sleep or take the Imitrex even, in fear that he will need it the next day, there will be no refill and nothing to aleviate the pain.

Last night he was in the bathroom banging the cabinet doors, running water on his hands and face, almost vomiting and found himself trying to find comfort on the cold tile in the bathroom.

I'm at a loss, once again. Don't know what to do. I hate sitting here knowing what he's going through and not being able to even offer a comforting word or even the last Imitrex in my purse becuase I know he won't take it. So here we go again. I'm so over this it's not even funny. Today marks an earlier hit as I sit here looking for something, ANYTHING to make the pain go away while he's in the bed suffering. It breaks my heart, but I don't need to tell any of you that. You all know the beast well.

What I'm wondering is has there been anything new that is found for relief. I don't have the time or energy to read through the site and all the posts, so I'm looking for a quick answer.

Just in time for the #$%@! holidays.

Hope to hear from some of you soon.
Toni

Title: Re: Been a long time
Post by thebbz on Nov 21^st, 2006, 9:18pm

Sorry toni,
You didn't mention,02 this is a godsend to many and helps stretch the trex. Try to remember it will leave.
Put the coffee on and I hate it for ya. There is help out there
http://www.patientadvocate.org/help.php
kick some demon butt

all the best
jb

Title: Re: Been a long time
Post by helpless23 on Nov 21^st, 2006, 9:23pm

Hi JB,

Been down the "struggle for 02" road. Maybe with the new neurosurgeon, but who knows. Surgery on the neck/back in 2 weeks.

I'm suggesting the caffeine fix for a try, but have none in the house besides coffee (Joe) and I've already started pumping it into him. Then he said "I once read that caffeine was no good for any type of headache" to which I responded "But this isn't any type of headache or a headache at all" to which HE replied "You're right". He's drained. It's understandable. Ug.

Thanks for the support.

Toni

Title: Re: Been a long time
Post by BB on Nov 21^st, 2006, 10:46pm

Hi Toni,

Sorry to hear that your husband is being hit hard.

If the hits are mainly at night, has he tried melatonin? Its a natural supplement thats not just helping to improve the night sleep but also can help reducing the night hits too.

Then there is the ice on the eye/neck and temple trick. Wrap some ice in a damped towels and put it on his neck , eye and temple on the side of the cluter, it can help reduce the pain a fair bit.

Apart from coffee, you can get him some energy drinks too such as Red bull. One chugged down fast enough at the start of a hit may abort it for him.

With imitrex, have you used the trex tip to split the dose? One injection can be splitted into 2 or even 3 doses so that will help.

As BBZ said, oxygen is really good for abortive, if you have problem getting a script for it, maybe you can look into welders oxygen? Some people here have tried it. Talk to Jonny if you need some advices there.

Lastly, see if he can try other meds as abortive. Some here including my husband have found that Zyprexa tablets work as an abortive quite quickly and they are much cheaper than the trex. Talk to your doctor/specialist about this and see if they would give him some to try.

Sending lots of vibes and painfree wishes.

Annette

Title: Re: Been a long time
Post by roy21302 on Nov 22^nd, 2006, 9:39am

Toni and husband,
Sorry to hear that you are getting hit at the moment, I know from experienance that it always seems worse when you have not been hit for some time. I t always felt like a kick in the b@@@ to me and the sadness of the wife was terrible see. Do see if you can try the O2, it did not work for me fist time I tried it but sure does now, worth a try. In the mean time all my best vibes to both of you, hoping you get PF again soon Cheers Roy :)